Water-cooler



(No Model.) 8 Y v W.v H. PRUEN.l WATER COOLER'.

No. 488,478. Patented Deo.A 20,1892.

THE: Noims PETERS an., PHoTopTHO., WASHINGTON. u. x:4

Uwrrn Srarns afrnNr prisa@ VVATEFi-COOLER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,473, dated December 20, 1892.

Application tiled May 22,1891. Serial No. 393,702. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be itknown that LWILLIA'M HENRY FRUEN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Coolers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to water coolers, and consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter shown and described, and speciically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the cooler complete. Fig. 2 is a plan View in section on the line X X of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of a portion of the base of the cooler. Figs. et and 5 are enlarged sectional details of the automatic valve and coupling, detached.

A represents the base of the cooler upon which the lower edge of the outer casing or shell B rests, this base being provided with a cross bar A2 raised above its upper line to support the inner casing or shell B2, the space between the casing being filled with any suitable non-heat conducting material a.

D represents a disk or plate attached to the base below the cross bar A2, and adapted to support the non-heat conducting illin g a, as shown. The disk or plate I) is supported by a shoulder formed upon the inner part of the base A, as shown, and by which'it is secured in place by rivets or bolts. The cross bar A2 is preferably formed in one piece with the base A', and forms a rigid support for the inner shell H', so that the latter cannot ben come displaced by jarring or shaking of the vessel, or be depressed or displaced by the ice vessel whose weight is borne by it, as herein* after shown.

The upper edge of the two shells B B2 are supported by an annular casting'E, the outer shell being riveted or otherwise connected to the rib b', of the ring E, while the inner shell B2 is held in place concentrically to the outer shell by a rib b2 on the ring, as shown. By

this simple construction the casing or shell of the cooler is formed complete, with only two rows of rivets or screws, one row connecting the outer casing B to the base A', and one row connecting the outer casing to the ring E, the inner casing B2 being held in place by resting upon the cross bar A2, and being supported by lthe rib b2, as before described, and requiring no other fastening.

F represents the cover to the cooler which rests upon the ring E, and is also provided with non-conducting tilling a.

Screwed or otherwise connected to thecenter ofthe cross bar A2, and passing up through it, is a plug G perforated at its upper end at d, and into the lower part of which a pipe G2 supporting the faucet G2, is screwed, as shown. Beneath the perforated head G of the plug, the latter is formed with a reduced portion adapted to receive a rubber packing ring e', as shown.

H represents the receptacle for the ice and water which is adapted to rest loosely in the inner shell B2, and is provided in the center of its bottom with a valve'seat g upon which a hollow cap g2 is screwed, as shown, the two parts g g2 when thus connected forming a coupling to secure the valve seat in place, and hold it in iiXed relation to the receptacle H. and also forming a hood or housing for the protection of the valve. The valve consists of a rubber disk h held between two metal disks h2h2, by a screw h4 the projecting end of the latter serving as a guide for one end of'a spring h5, the other end of the spring being supported in a chamber g3 on the upper end of the cap g2. The cap g2 is supplied with a row of perforations g4 near its lower edge, and above the seat g', as shown, to permit the water to flow into the cap, and thence by the perforations d to the faucet G3. The perforations g4 are placed at the lowest point of the cap g2 above the upper edge of the valve seat g', so that as the valve is lifted, it will be elevated above the lines of the perforations and willv not retard the entering water.

It will be readily understood that when the receptacle is removed from the casing, the spring 71,5 will close the valve-h and prevent the escape of the water from the receptacle H', and then when the receptacle is placed in the casing, the plug G will enter the seat g' and force the valve open and permit the Water to pass through the perforationsdinto the plug G, and thence by the pipe G2 to the faucet G2, the rubber packing e pressing against IOO 'the sides and bottom of the seat g and forming a water tight packing to prevent the escape of the water from the receptacle to the casing. The part g thus has two seats, one within its lower part curved and tapered and against which the packing e rests, and the other on its upper rim upon which the valve h rests.

The receptacle H is of cast iron, (porcelain lined), and is formed with a convex bottom H2 projecting upward into its interior, so that the outlet openings g4 are always above the lowest line to which the water falls, so that a place is left for any sediment which may be in the water or ice. The upper edge ot' the receptacle H is formed with a channel or trough i into which the rim i2 of an auxiliary cover F tits, as shown, so that by filling the trough with water an air tight cover will be provided for the receptacle, as an additional protection to the ice from the warmer surrounding atmosphere. By this means a cornpact, simple inexpensve apparatus is produced, that will not be easily disarranged, or get out of order.

When it is desired to replenish the ice and water receptacle, it is only necessary to lift it out of the shell or casing, the act of disconnecting the seat g from the plug G releasing the Valve h and permitting it to automatically close, and prevent the escape of any water which may remain in the receptacle.

The cap g2 is an important feature of this invention, serving the threefold purpose of a nut to secure the seat g iu place; a guide for the spring g5; and a guard to the valve to prevent the ice from coming in contact with the valve or its spring. This latter function is a very important one, there being danger during the actof placing the ice in the receptacle of injuring the valve by the concussion of the ice therewith, but by protecting the valve with the cap g2 this danger is avoided.

The upper end of the plug G is shown with a small cavity and the head of the screw h4 which holds the different parts of the valve together is rounded to t this cavitywhen the receptacle is inserted into the cooler, to form an additional support to and guide for the connecting parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a water cooler, the combination of a base A having a cross bar A2 projecting above and connecting its opposite upper edges, an outer casing B connected by its lower edge to the upper outer edge of said base, a disk D connected to said base and forming a bottom thereto below the line of said outer casing or shell, an inner shell H resting upon said cross bar within said outer shell, an annular ring E uniting the upper edge of said inner and outer shell, and non-conducting filling a between said shells and disk D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth, whereby the weight of said inner shell is borne by said cross bar.

2. In a water cooler, the combination of a base A having a cross bar D projecting above and connecting its opposite upper edges, an outer casing B connected by its lower edge to the upper outer edge of said base,an inner shell Hhresting -upon said cross bar within said outer shell, an annular ring E uniting the upper edges of said inner and outer shell, non-conducting filling a between said shells and disk, a faucet pipe G2 passing horizontally through the side of said base and with its inner perforated end Gr upturned and projecting through said cross bar and inner shell and secured therein, an ice receptacle I-I having a spring valve in its bottom adapted to be actuated by said upwardly projecting end G when said receptacle is inserted into said inner shell, substantially as and for the lpurpose set forth. y

3. In a water cooler, the combination with the casing or shell having a perforated plug G projecting upward into its interior and connected to an exterior faucet, of an inner ice receptacle H', a valve seat g inserted through the bottom of said receptacle, a comf bined nut and cap g2, provided with perforations and screwed over said valve seat within said receptacle, a valve resting upon said seat within said cap, a spring within said cap and above said valve for holding it closed, and ay rubber gasket e surrounding the lower part of said plug, whereby when said receptacle is inserted into said shell said plug will open said valve and form a connection between .said receptacle and said faucet, and said valve be automatically closed when said receptacle is removed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY 'FRUENl Vitnesses:

C. N. WooDwARD, W. F. FRUEN.

IOC) 

